punjab elections

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann accused the BJP of orchestrating twin blasts in Amritsar and Jalandhar as a tactic to spread fear and violence for the 2027 Assembly elections. He alleged the party seeks electoral mileage by creating unrest, particularly after the recent sacrilege law's passage. Investigations are ongoing, with security agencies exploring potential cross-border links.

West Bengal may have convinced the BJP that even difficult states can be conquered. But crossing from two seats to the halfway mark in a Sikh-majority state is another proposition altogether

Arvind Kejriwal moved to a new residence on April 24, the same day AAP MP Ashok Mittal quit the party and joined the BJP. This move, prompted by court orders, occurred just hours after Kejriwal vacated Mittal's previous government accommodation. Mittal's defection, along with others, weakens AAP ahead of crucial elections and raises questions about its internal stability.

The exit of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, including strategists Sandeep Pathak and Raghav Chadha, marks a symbolic blow to the party in Punjab ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. While their operational influence had already diminished, their departure is seen as a psychological setback, with the BJP likely to leverage the defections to portray AAP as a 'sinking ship'.

As AAP now grapples with defections to the BJP, this extract of a journalist revisits an earlier moment of unease — when Raghav Chadha’s absence during Kejriwal’s arrest first raised questions about his role, relevance, and position within the party

Raghav Chadha's defection from AAP to BJP, along with six other Rajya Sabha members, significantly weakens the party's parliamentary strength and national positioning. This move, which qualifies as a merger under anti-defection rules, erodes AAP's credibility and its ability to represent Punjab's interests nationally, potentially impacting upcoming elections.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using the Enforcement Directorate's raid on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal as election preparation for Punjab. The ED action occurred shortly after Mittal was appointed deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Raghav Chadha.

The Aam Aadmi Party alleges a political motive behind the ED raid on MP Ashok Mittal, linking it to Raghav Chadha's recent Z-plus security upgrade. AAP claims the developments are interconnected, suggesting the raid was decided during Chadha's meeting with BJP leadership as a campaign tactic.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the residence of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal just days after his appointment as the party's deputy leader in the Upper House. This action follows a recent leadership reshuffle within the AAP's Rajya Sabha contingent, where Mittal replaced Raghav Chadha. Mittal, the founder of Lovely Professional University, entered politics in 2022.

The Aam Aadmi Party's rift with MP Raghav Chadha has widened, with leaders accusing him of betrayal and linking ED raids on Ashok Mittal to his alleged collusion with the BJP. Chadha's removal as deputy leader and subsequent Z-category security have fueled internal dissent and public accusations.

Raghav Chadha has been removed as the Aam Aadmi Party's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. Ashok Mittal has been appointed in his place. The party has also requested the Rajya Sabha secretariat not to allot speaking time to Chadha from its quota. This move comes amid reports of indiscipline and not adhering to the party line.

Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring stated that Raghav Chadha's removal as AAP's Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha signifies his sidelining within the party. This move fuels public perception that Chadha may soon leave or be removed from AAP. Ashok Kumar Mittal has replaced Chadha in the role.

Raghav Chadha, removed as AAP's Rajya Sabha deputy leader, asserted his silence in Parliament is not defeat. He questioned the party's high command after AAP requested the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to stop him from speaking, stating his focus has always been on raising public issues.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confidently predicted he would lead the state for the next two decades, dismissing opposition claims of his imminent removal. Mann also criticized the Shiromani Akali Dal for damaging Punjab and pushing youth towards drugs and gangsterism, while accusing the Congress of abandoning the budget debate.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared the BJP will contest the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections independently, aiming to form its own government. He asserted the party's growing vote share and criticized the AAP government's performance on law and order, drugs, and corruption. Shah also pledged to enact a law against religious conversions if the BJP wins.

In a strongly worded ruling, Special Judge (PC Act) Jitender Singh of the Rouse Avenue Court said the prosecution’s case was "legally infirm, unsustainable, and unfit to proceed any further in law". The court further observed that when the material collected by the agency was tested on admissibility, relevance and probative value, "the appearance of a coherent conspiracy dissolves," exposing the allegations as being founded on inadmissible material and post-facto reconstruction.

Following Arvind Kejriwal's discharge in the excise policy case, Congress accused the BJP of political vendetta, alleging a "shape-shifter, wishful serpent" strategy to defeat opposition. Congress claims cases against its leaders are accelerated while those against AAP and other allies vanish due to electoral calculations.